The award for Saturday's most misleading post, part two

Apparently attempting to outdo itself, the conservative blog The Outlander lied twice in one day:

Bill "Slick Willie" Ritter undertook what he promoted as a whistle-stop tour of the state today. How much did that cost the Colorado tayxpayer? The objective news media did not ask, and they probably will not do so. But had this been a Republican they would have demanded the original receipts for all expenses incurred.

In 10 seconds of Googling, I found stories in the Rocky and 9news.com reporting that the total cost of inauguration activities - including the whistle-stop train tour - will be $750,000, financed primarily by ticketholders and corporate sponsors, not taxpayers.

"It's about Colorado leading the way, leading the nation."

Me and about 3,000 of my closest friends watched Bill Ritter take the oath of office shortly before noon. His speech opened with praise for everyone from Bill Owens and Robert F. Kennedy to Ritter's extensive family. And he repeated the themes that carried him to victory in November - renewable energy, education and healthcare reform.

I stood in a receiving line for nearly an hour to congratulate Ritter, along with Barbara O'Brien, John Suthers and Cary Kennedy. It's a little strange getting a 20 second audience with the Governor. I said, "Congratulations, good luck and nice weather we're having," or something similarly inane. Ritter smiled back like I was making sense.

It was even odder shaking hands with Suthers. The attorney general has a disturbing affinity for the Trailhead Group, but has recently attempted to create bipartisan legislation.

There's more coverage of the day here, here, here and here. This diary was cross-posted at SquareState.

Second Ritter inaugural dinner added

A press release reads, in part:

Due to overwhelming popular demand, the Ritter-O'Brien Inaugural Celebration has added a second reception and dinner venue to the Jan. 12 festivities. About 700 tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday via the inaugural website, www.coloradopromise.org. The additional dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center Hotel, directly across the street from the Colorado Convention Center, where the initial 2,000-seat dinner is being served. Tickets to that venue sold out in less than 24 hours."

The Ritter-O'Brien Inaugural Committee also announced the official menu for the dinner. Diners will savor Aspen Salad, Beef Wellington and the taste of victory.

Legislative session linkmania

The Ritter inauguration and the start of the national and Colorado 2007 legislative sessions are almost here. And with the Democrats in control, the right is already spreading misinformation about impending doom and annoying liberals. But the Democrats aren't likely to run afoul of any astute observers. They're mostly planning to "play fair" and stick to the popular agenda that won over voters in November.

Today's Rocky Mountain News has more on the goals of individual members Colorado's delegation, including Diana DeGette's resumed advocacy for stem cell research:

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, will be thrust back into a national spotlight as she tries to build a veto-proof majority for her legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. In 2006, she won majority passage but didn't have enough votes to reverse the president's first-ever veto.

Hat-tip to TalkLeft for the "annoying liberals" link. And, as always, much thanks to the Progress Now Action daily news digest.

More Ritter administration news

The appointments and nominations are coming fast and furious in advance of the inaugural. Today Bill Ritter nominated Colorado Board of Education member Rico Munn executive director of the Department of Regulatory Affairs. The press release clarifies, "Munn's nomination requires state Senate confirmation. He plans to resign his seat on the Board of Education at the panel's next meeting."

Jessi Colter to perform at Bill Ritter's inaugural

I haven't the slightest idea who Jessi Colter is. But I should, according to a press release from the governor elect:

[C]ountry-music star Jessi Colter will headline the Jan. 12 inaugural concert. Three other musical acts also are slated to perform at the inaugural celebration at the Colorado Convention Center's Wells Fargo Theatre.

"We're extremely pleased a musician of Jessi Colter's caliber will be the main act for Gov.-elect Ritter and Lt. Gov.-elect O'Brien's inaugural concert," said Inaugural Committee co-chairs Frances Koncilja and James Crowe. "This will be a wonderfully entertaining night."